So i purchased a set of Espelir lowering springs for 125$ shipped. I took it to a place in town for an estimate on how much it would cost to install it and an alignment afterwards. They gave me an estimate of $712... Is this right...? Labor was $95 per hour. The guy looked like he didnt know what he was doing he had to look up on the internet the springs and stuff. He also said the install time for it would be 7 hours at first then changed it to 6... Theres no ******* way it takes 6 hours to install springs..

 

was k-lube included in the deal?

 

 

Even if it it did, you have no confidence in the guy's ability. Trust your instinct and walk away and find a shop you can trust to do it right.

 

shouldn't pay no more than 100 bucks

 

Around me estimates for a spring install are about $300-$400. I just did it myself and it took me about 7-8 hours since it was my first install. I don't think you should be paying a guy who doesn't seem to know what he's doing, it'll cost you more in the long run. Doing it yourself is pretty straight forward with a couple of DIY from the forum.

 

That's a rip-off! Find another shop.

 

Its funny how unrealistic some peoples ideas about how shop labor costs should be.
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Pull in the car. Lift it up.
Remove all 4 wheels.
Dislodge front upper ball joint taper.
Disconnect front upper control arm from the car.
Unbolt and remove strut brace (when applicable)
Unbolt strut top plate.
Unbolt lower strut bolt.
Remove strut assy and control arm from the car.
Bring it over to the spring compressor. Compress the spring.
Undo the top plate nut.
Remove the shock from the the spring.
Decompress and remove the spring from the compressor.
Compress the new spring.
Reinstall the shock and top plate.
Decompress the strut.
Bring it back to the car. Finagle the strut and control arm back into the car. Reattach the control arm bolts.
Reattach the top plate nuts.

Do the same thin all over again for the other side. Reinstall the strut brace.

Move to the back.

Open trunk and remove inner lining without braking any clips.
Unbolt and remove upper support bracket.
Unscrew 2 top plate strut nuts.
Raise the car
Unbolt and dislodge 2 rear upper and lower control arms from the knuckle.
Unbolt top plate bolt.
Unscrew lower strut nut and dislodge bottom of strut from knuckle.
Bring it over to the strut compressor and perform spring swap as stated above.
Reinstall top mount bolt.
Reinstall lower strut to knuckle and nut.
Reinstall control arm to knuckle.
Lower car and reinstall top plate nuts.
Reinstall upper support bracket.
Reinstall inner lining.

Repeat for other side.

Reinstall and torque wheels.

Drive it up to the alignment rack.
Loosen all control arm bolts to perform preload procedure.
Perform 4 wheel alignment.

Not taking into account any rusty bolts or things that fight on the way out or during adjustments.
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You expect to only have to pay $100 for all this work? I would be scared to drive a car that had 4 struts removed, fussed with and reinstalled with an alignment for $100.

OP: Your $700+ quote is a but steep. However I can see it costing $500-600 easily. You gotta consider 1 hr minimum per corner. Plus a quality 4 wheel alignment at $150. That puts you at $530. Plus labor tax if applicable (in my state its 6.35%) That another $33. Plus environmental fees and shop supplies. (depends on a shop by shop basis)

As far as the computer he looked at, its possible he was looking up the labor time. Every shop goes by a predetermined labor time rate. The time suggested in the book is the time you get quoted. Every car is different. At our shop we use the "Chilton Labor Guide" in paper format. He may have something comparable in electronic format. That is the life line behind the whole "flat rate" thing. But that a discussion for another topic.

Not to mention he could have been looking up the procedure online to see what he was about to get into. Not uncommon. Like I said before, every car is different. You cannot expect he knows exactly every step it take to do the struts in our cars. It doesn't make him incompetent by any means. It means he's being prepared. There could have been a surprise he didn't expect and would have to take that into consideration for when the car would actually be done.

Not everybody in the auto industry is out to rob you.

 

 

My shop charged me $450, charged for 5 hours of labor.
30min of work, then assistant stops to look for bolt for another car he lost in the shop.
1hr of nobody working on my car
30min of work
45min diagnoses weak starter on another car.
45min of work with 2 people.

charged me for 5hrs.

It is what it is. Try to do it yourself, it will take time like moby said. It took me about 7hrs just to do the fronts, then realized i put on the rear springs on the front. When you dont know what you are doing it takes time. The second time around will take you 5hrs with hand tools or even less.

 

I've paid $125-250 for installations. Usually takes around 2-4 hours MAX... usually around 2 if you have a guy that's done it a few times and knows what he's doing.

Quoted $450 max for a shop that doesn't regularly work on Mazdas but maybe I'm just lucky.

 

That how shops work. Your car isn't always the only one being worked on at the same time. And the guy working on yours isn't always the only one he's working on. Thats why they have the labor guide to go by.
It doesn't matter if it takes 1 guy 45 minutes to do your whole suspension because its the 100th one hes done and he knows exactly what to to and when and fast. They are still charging you full book labor.
On the flip side, there a plenty of times where we undercharged based on what the book said and it took much longer.

People don't understand what it takes to run a successful auto repair facility. It aint like running a lemonade stand.
Just as an fyi I'm gunna look up the labor today when I get into work.

 

Thanks for all the answers everyone i appreciate it.

 

Well said!!! As an auto mechanic of 10+ years (in my previous career), I have a lot of respect for the majority of mechanics. It is a tough way to make a living, and it's a rare day that you are appreciated for it.

I hear people complain about a technician who does the job in less time than the flat rate calls for. Be ecstatic when that happens, because it means that the guy who worked on your ride knew what he was doing. (Presuming he's not a complete hack, of course.)

I'd love to see you run a shop, charging a ~$20/hr rate.

 

You were really spying on them...lol

 

they let me watch.

 

Looked it up the other day but couldn't get back on due to hurricane Sandy. Just got power back tonight.

Chiltons Labor Guide gives 3.4 hours to change front springs both sides. And 2.2 hours to change both rear springs. For a total of 5.6 hours.

5.6hrs x $95 per hour you were quoted = $532. (our labor rate is $85)
Plus 6.35% labor tax if applicable is $33.78
For a total $565.78 for labor.
Plus $150 (what we charge for a 4 wheel alignment) is a total of $715.78
Not including "shop supplies" and "environmental fees."

So... Your quote of $712 Id say is right on for what you should expect to pay.

 

I know this is older, but decided to chime because I just did a coilover install myself.

Yes, took me and a friend all day, but we did the swap on 2 separate rx8's.

Alignment shop charges $60 down here all 4 wheels, and they are legit. Find a real private owned shop, not one of these big retail chains looking for only profit.

Go to Advance or Autozone or wherever you can rent a Spring Compressor.

Four Tools You Need To Install Lowering Springs - Autos.com

I'm sure you installed everything by now, for anyone else looking to do it just do research and take your time reading up on everything. Be 100% prepared before you start pulling things apart because that's where it will get time consuming and frustrating. Brand new or used, nothing is easy to come apart easy!

lol expect the unexpected.

 

I find it crazy to pay $500-$600 for installation of a $125 set of springs.. That's why I invest in quality tools and alway take a look at the foxed.ca manual. If your halfway mechanically inclined you can work on the Rx8.

 

That's usually the way it is. Take things like a timing belt for instance. It could cost $100 for the part. But 4+ hours labor to put in. Or a rear main seal. $20 part. 6+ hours to put it.

 

Trust me I know parts and pricing (I work in a parts store). Which is why I would advise OP, if he's any bit mechanically inclined to do the job himself. The rx8 is an easy car to work on (atleast easier than any other car I've worked on) and bringing it to a mechanic would be a waste of money, At least imo it would be.

Then again this thread seems old, Hopefully OP solved this situation by now.